Utica took the 2-1 series edge with a 4-1 win in Game 3 last night… Sven Baertschi (6-6–12) led the way for the Comets, scoring a natural hat trick in 8:36 in the second period to open up the first three-goal lead for the Comets in the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs… The hat trick was also the first of its kind in Baertschi’s professional playoff career, and gives him four goals in his last two games… Six different players recorded assists on the three Baertschi goals: Will Acton (0-1–1), Wacey Hamilton (1-2–3), Alex Friesen (3-6–9), Cal O’Reilly (0-13–13), Bobby Sanguinetti (2-7–9), and Jake Virtanen (0-1–1)… The Virtanen assist was the rookie’s first professional point in his fifth professional game with the Comets after being drafted sixth overall in 2014 by Vancouver… Jacob Markstrom (9-6-0, 1.91, .930) shined in net, posting 40 saves after being pulled in favor of Joacim Eriksson in Game 2… Cory Conacher (2-1–3) scored his second of the playoffs to make the final 4-1, getting assists from Peter Andersson (1-3–4) and Markstrom… The Comets will play just their third-ever game without Brandon DeFazio, as he sits out the second game of his two-game suspension tonight… Marek Tvrdon (2-4–6) converted on the power play early in the third period to get the Griffins on the board with his second of the postseason… Jeff Hoggan (2-5–7) and Dylan Larkin (2-1–3) picked up the assists… The 16th overall pick in 2014 by Detroit, Larkin now has three points in three games after signing an ATO with the Griffins on May 21… Tom McCollum (8-4-0, 2.69, .913) stopped 21-of-25 in net… The loss was the Griffins’ first at home in the playoffs this year after going 5-0 against Toronto and Rockford.

Western Conference Finals History The Robert W. Clarke Trophy is presented each season to the playoff champions of the AHL’s Western Conference… Here are the results of the Western Conference Finals since the league split into two conferences in 1995-96:

Eastern Conference Finals History The Richard F. Canning Trophy is presented each season to the playoff champions of the AHL’s Eastern Conference… Here are the results of the Eastern Conference Finals since the league split into two conferences in 1995-96:

Alumni Watch Game 7 of the NHL’s Western Conference Final between the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks is Saturday night in Anaheim, exactly nine years to the day after Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau led the Hershey Bears to a Game 7 win over Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and the Portland Pirates to advance to the 2006 Calder Cup Finals.

AHL Live Don’t miss a second on the road to the 2015 Calder Cup championship. AHL Live brings AHL action to your desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet all season long with live video webcasts and free highlights of every AHL game… Visit ahllive.com for details.